Films that were better than the book

[SlightlyJaded]

Not many spring to mind. The book is ALWAYS better - that's the rules.

The few exceptions that I can think of are:

Brokeback Mountain (book was fucking tedious to be fair)
The Ice Storm (brilliant book but even better film)
The Shawshank Redemption ( I actually really enjoyed the short story that was 'Rita Haywarth and the Shawshank Redemption but I think the book took it to the next level).

Apparently 'Fight Club' was also a book first. Never read it but I assume the film is better mainly as Brad wasn't in the book.

But I can't really think of any others? Any more for any more?

Oh, another couple - The Godfather and The Exorcist.

Fever Pitch (the nock Hornby book/Colin Farrell film).

I love football and love this film, but found the book so dull.

Can't believe you liked The Talented Ripley Davros!

Ripley's Game on the other hand is much better than the book. John Malcovich a far superior Ripley to the bland Matt Damon..

I completely disagree on Les Miserables. Fabulous book. The stage show is waaaaay better than the film. The Thenardiers were all wrong in the film and Eddie Redmayne sounds like Kermit when he sings. And why did they cut Grantaire's part? You can probably tell I'm a Grantaire fan. I can't even summon the words to discuss what they did to Javert. The Gladiator? Fucking really?

Anyway, um, I also disagree about Brokeback Mountain. Fabulous novella, superb film. The film brilliantly captured it.

The Notebook is schmaltzy crap I know but the film is heaps better than the book.

Stand By Me is an 80s classic. Perfect film in my opinion. The Body by Stephen King has the same concept but the whole point of the story falls on one scene which is not that important in the film. This point (not spoiling) also takes away the poignancy of Chris dying as in the film. ( as in played by River Phoenix).

Excellent point about Oliver Twist with songs. Much improved!

Life of pi, the devil wears prada

I thought the film of The Shining was better than the book- and normally I love Stephen King. The film was definitely better than the godawful mini series anyway.

I rather enjoyed Stardust the novel but agree that the film was much better.

Also World War Z. The film was atrocious and absolutely nothing like the book apart from the zombies.

Sorry ignore the comment about WWZ. It was late at night and doesn't have any relevance to the thread I realise we're talking about films that were better than the book not worse

Touching the Void - had me feeling dizzy watching the moutaineering scenes and on the edge of my seat, even though I had read the book and knew the outcome.

We need to talk about Kevin (only just though, the film wasn't that great) - don't agree. Thought the film crap - and book good (once I'd got over the first hundred or so pages...)

Forrest Gump.

The film has him going on some far fetched adventures, but the book is just ridiculous!

Dr Zhivago. Beautiful film, tedious book.

I was the opposite on The maze runner. I thought it was a way better book, the film butchered it.

True Grit, the Cohen Bros one.

Agree with Room with a view. But not The English Patient, I loved that book.

Came on to say Stand By Me and The Virgin Suicides but will have to echo them instead

The Help film was better than the book. The book really irritated the hell out of me in that the author rendered all of the black characters' dialogue in phonetically indicated stereotypical black accents, but no indication of accents in the white characters. In the film, they all had versions of Southern accents.

Not RTFT but thought film version of Gone Girl was infinitely better than the book, which I thought was a predictable load of crap.

The Time Traveller's wife. Bought the book and wondered what the hell the fuss was about. Abandoned it very quickly. Managed to half watch the film, albeit with a constant sneer.

I just didn't get Bridget Jones as a book but loved the films. May have been the age I was when I read them (very early 20s) because it just didn't seem plausible! Loved the last instalment though.

I thought the green mile was as good as the book, missed a few details out but well done all the same.

Atonement was far better as a film imo.

Disagree about Brokeback Mountain. The short story, and that is what is, is wonderful, as is the film.

I'm lucky to be teaching both this year.

Ok, someone needs to spill about the ending of the Gone Girl movie because I only read the book.

Thought the ending was lazy and ridiculous. A real 'can't be arsed continuing so I'll tie up loose ends' feel to it.

Bladerunner - film better then the book.

Also think Les Mis book is better. A difficult, long slog of a read but quite epic and touching in parts. Movie just can't capture it the same.

God, yes about Bladerunner. I had to read "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" while looking for texts to teach as writing into film. Sorry, Mr Dick: not a good one.

I nearly lost the will to live.